Research says PC buyers need better built-in mobile broadband
By Mike Robuck
There’s an untapped market for PCs with built-in mobile broadband capabilities, according to recent research.
The GSM Association (GSMA) and Microsoft released a consumer study on mobile broadband computers that shows that there is an underserved market for PCs with built-in mobile functionalities.
The study, which was conducted by Pyramid Research, said that a 70 million unit opportunity currently exists for notebook PCs in the $500 to $1,000 price range that are equipped with built-in mobile broadband abilities. The market could be worth roughly $50 billion by next year, the research said.
The research reveals a gap of potentially 46.5 million units between recent industry analyst forecasts and the new analysis, suggesting that PC manufacturers have yet to deliver the right mobile broadband PCs – bundled with pre-configured mobile connectivity – to appeal to mass-market PC buyers.
“With the right form factor, price and ‘out-of-the-box’ connectivity, the research has unearthed substantial demand for mobile-broadband-embedded notebooks that is not yet being met,” said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA. “Now that we understand the market potential and consumers’ requirements, we are pleased to communicate the findings to the broader industry eco-system.”
The GSMA and some of its largest operator members are sponsoring a competition to identify devices and manufacturers who are able to serve the untapped market, with the winners to be announced in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The GSMA is a global trade association representing more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 countries and territories. In addition, more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers support the association’s initiatives.
Continuous Computing names SVP of sales
By Traci Patterson
Continuous Computing has appointed Brian Brown as SVP of sales and field operations.
The 28-year telecom industry vet joins Continuous Computing from Terawave Communications, where he was SVP of global sales and sales engineering. Brown has also held management positions with Alcatel-Lucent, Optical Solutions and Harris Corp.’s Broadcast Communications division.
Continuous Computing provides integrated systems and services that enable telecom equipment manufacturers (TEMs) to reduce platform lifecycle costs, optimize data delivery and accelerate the deployment of next-generation network (NGN), 3G wireless and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) infrastructure.
In October, the company unleashed its Trillium Femtocell protocol software solution for TEMs to deploy femtocell equipment. Later that month, Continuous Computing expanded its business strategy, adding Tier 2 and Tier 3 TEMs to its overall focus. The company also introduced FlexTCA, a product family consisting of fully integrated systems for creating IPTV, security and wireless core solutions.
The San Diego-based company has more than 150 customers worldwide, including Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola, Cisco, Nortel Networks, Ciena, Juniper, Sun Microsystems and UTStarcom.
Telrad Networks enables wireless backhaul over IP
By Brian Santo
Telrad Networks is now providing pseudowire solutions for wireless backhaul and carrier Ethernet.
The Telrad TAG-11C pseudowire (PWE3) Gateway enables T1/E1/DS0 circuit emulation service (CES), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) emulation, ATM/IMA emulation, PPP/HDLC emulation, frame relay emulation and Ethernet emulation.
The range of configurations, Telrad said, provides MPLS/IP/Ethernet transport over packet-switched networks (PSN) for backhaul applications.
“Vendors are recognizing they need pseudowire in various places in the backhaul networks,” said Itshak Aizner, VP of product management at Telrad. “So although the basic platform is standard, providing a variety of models is crucial. Telrad has a flexible range of configurations available with very fast time to market to meet those needs.”
Woodle to join Arris’ board of directors
By Mike Robuck
Arris Group announced today that David Woodle will join the company’s board of directors once Arris completes its purchase of C-Cor. Woodle is currently the chairman and CEO of C-Cor.
“We look forward to having Dave (Woodle) join our board,” said Arris chairman and CEO Bob Stanzione. “Dave’s involvement will help ensure that the combination of our two companies will benefit our customers, employees and our shareholders.”
After a failed attempt to acquire TandbergTV earlier in the year, Arris made a $730 million cash and stock offer for C-Cor in late September.
UTStarcom bows new line of cell phones for wireless spectrum
By Mike Robuck
UTStarcom’s Personal Communications division took the wraps off of a new line of cell phones that can operate on the new Advanced Wireless Spectrum (AWS). The line comprises three models: the CDM7126, CDM7176 and the CDM8076.
AWS is a wireless telecommunications band that uses microwave frequencies in two segments – from 1710 MHz to 1755 MHz, and from 2110 MHz to 2155 MHz. It allows wireless providers additional bandwidth to offer their customers faster and more-reliable network coverage, including video, data and messaging services for their mobile devices, according to UTStarcom.
“We are one of the first manufacturers to offer AWS devices to carriers,” said Philip Christopher, president of UTStarcom Personal Communications. “We believe that the AWS band will play an important part in the future growth of our carrier partners in developing faster and more-reliable wireless networks.”
Broadband Briefs for 11/13/07
* Ixia replaces sales SVP; Operations EVP steps down
By Brian Santo
Ixia has appointed Alan Grahame SVP of worldwide sales. Grahame most recently served as worldwide VP for customer operations with the communications solutions group of Agilent Technologies. He replaces Dave Anderson, who was the SVP of worldwide sales and business development operations. Ixia said Anderson might end up with a new assignment at the company.
Separately, Sam Bass, Ixia’s EVP of operations, has resigned; the move had been reported in a recent SEC filing.
* Convergys renews billing deal with Cablemás
By Traci Patterson
Convergys Corp. has renewed its billing agreement with Cablemás, Mexico’s second-largest cable operator, for an additional five years.
The agreement continues the licensing, maintenance and support of Convergys’ ICOMS convergent voice, video and data billing and customer care solution. Cablemás has been operating the Convergys ICOMS solution for more than 12 years, and it now supports more than 750,000 cable TV, broadband and IP telephony subscribers, Convergys said.
* Ensequence names new president, COO
By Traci Patterson
Ensequence has appointed TV-industry vet Peter Low as its president and COO.
Low will be based in New York and will work directly with cable and satellite providers, TV programmers and advertisers. Low most recently served as EVP of cable distribution and marketing for MTV Networks and BET Networks.
Additionally, Ensequence has been selected by DirecTV to deliver interactive television (iTV) programming. Viewers of NBC’s soap opera “Passions,” who have an iTV-capable STB, will now be able to interact with the programming via their remote control. DirecTV is using Ensequence’s on-Q Publish suite to maintain the application.
* Digital Watermarking Alliance adds 3 new members
By Mike Robuck
The Digital Watermarking Alliance (DWA) now has 20 total members with the addition of three new organizations: AquaMobile, located in Spain; U.S.-based The Nielsen Company; and academic member Universite Catholique de Louvain, Laboratoire de Telecommunications, located in Belgium.
The DWA, which focuses on digital watermarking products, has grown its membership more than 65 percent since it was founded 15 months ago.
* Sonus Networks gets follow-on from Mexican carrier
By Brian Santo
Alestra, a Mexican carrier in which AT&T has a minority stake, is planning an expansion of its VoIP network, based in part on gear from Sonus Networks, according to the equipment supplier.
Sonus Networks and other partners (Avaya is an announced supplier) will help Alestra meet recent regulatory requirements mandating network operators to provide Local Number Portability (LNP) during 2008, an area in which Sonus claims expertise. Alestra has been a Sonus Networks customer since 2001.
